Faces & Places: MLB All-Star Game

July 18, 2011

From the MLB All-Star Game in Phoenix

BANK OF AMERICA
(From left) Karl Gentles, executive director of Back to School Clothing Drive; Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Chris Young; and Bank of America Arizona President Benito Almanza collect school supplies for 10,000 needy students at 120 banking centers as part of Bank of America’s “Give Like an All-Star” program in Phoenix.

JONATHAN BODOW
The Wharton Sports Business Initiative played host to a “State of the Business of Baseball” discussion July 12 in Phoenix, site of the MLB All-Star Game. Among those on hand were (from left) Nona Lee of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Rick Welts of the Phoenix Suns, Karen Brodkin of Fox Sports, Derrick Heggans of Wharton, Carmin Romanelli of Getty Images and Jason Rowley of the Suns.

ROBERT BINDER / MLB PHOTOS
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig presented a donation of $1 million to the Foundation for Blind Children from the proceeds of the Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on July 11. Students from the foundation are joined by (from left) Foundation for Blind Children CEO Marc Ashton, Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall and managing general partner Ken Kendrick, Selig, Foundation for Blind Children student Max Ashton, Diamondbacks radio broadcaster Greg Schulte, and five-time MLB All-Star Luis Gonzalez.

Rory days on Cape Cod

MYSTOREDIMAGES.COM
U.S. Open champ Rory McIlroy took part in a private golf event last month at Willowbend Country Club in Mashpee, Mass., on Cape Cod. Golfers joining him on the course included Vijay Singh, Ian Poulter, Anthony Kim, Rocco Mediate and Cristie Kerr. The event was sponsored by Fireman Capital Partners. Pictured here with McIlroy and his U.S. Open trophy is Dan Fireman, managing partner of Fireman Capital Partners.

WNBA Storm gets day at White House …

NED DISHMAN
Members of the Seattle Storm, 2010 WNBA champions, were honored at the White House on June 29. President Barack Obama praised the team for its accomplishments on and off the court and recognized league president Laurel Richie and the WNBA for 15 years of history. Front row (from left): Jenny Boucek, assistant coach; Tanisha Wright; Sue Bird; Karen Bryant, president and CEO; Ginny Gilder, owner; Brian Agler, head coach; Obama; Lisa Brummel, owner; Missy Bequette, director of operations; Richie; and Dawn Trudeau, owner. Back row (from left): Ashley Robinson; Camille Little; Le’Coe Willingham; Swin Cash; Tom Spencer, head trainer; and Nancy Darsch, assistant coach.

… as do the MLS Cup champion Rapids

MLS
President Obama welcomed members of the 2010 MLS Cup champion Colorado Rapids to the White House last month. Jeff Plush, Rapids managing director, presented Obama with a team jersey.

Lacrosse on the White House lawn

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
The White House played host to a day of lacrosse July 11 to promote youth physical fitness. On the South Lawn are (from left) Iroquois Nationals players Brett Bucktooth and Jeremy Thompson, Chief Oren Lyons of the Onondaga Nation, and National Lacrosse League Commissioner George Daniel.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS
First lady Michelle Obama attended the July 5 Washington Nationals game against the Chicago Cubs to promote her “Joining Forces” initiative in support of military families. She was joined in pregame ceremonies by children from military families, members of the NatPack and Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa (third from left).

Tribute to troops at Turner Field

BUTTON IT UP
Fox Sports South and the Atlanta Braves honored military service members with a Tribute to the Troops celebration at Turner Field and throughout the network’s game telecast July 3. From left: Fox Sports South SVP and GM Jeff Genthner, Gen. Steve Blanton of the Georgia National Guard, Maj. Mark Brown of the Rest and Recuperation program’s Atlanta Personnel Assistance Point, and Derek Schiller, Atlanta Braves EVP of sales and marketing.

Tennis hall of famers welcome newest members

MIKE BAZ
The International Hall of Fame inducted Andre Agassi (center) and Peachy Kellmeyer (right of Agassi) at a ceremony July 9 in Newport, R.I., where they were joined by other hall of famers. From left: Owen Davidson, Vic Seixas, Bud Collins, Agassi, Kellmeyer, Butch Buchholz and Rosie Casals.

STANLEY LUMAX
Umbro and the New York Cosmos showed off their Blackout collection on July 13, the anniversary of the 1977 NYC blackout, at Reed Space and Annex. From left: Dan Alder, Umbro marketing director for North America; Dan Cherry, New York Cosmos executive director of marketing, and Jeff Staple, founder and creative director of Staple Design.